Collapsible tube closure openable by pressure of the contents



Nov. 3, 1953 L. M. WALCH 2,657,829

COLLAPSIBLEI TUBE CLOSURE OPENABLE BY PRESSURE OF THE CONTENTS FiledAug. 17, 1950 whm Patented Nov. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEooLLAPsIBLE TUBE CLOSURE OPENABLE BY PRESSURE OF THE CONTENTS Lila M.Walch, Los Angeles, Calif. Application August 17, 1950, Serial No.180,002 9 Claims. (01. 222-412) This invention relates to improvementsin closures for collapsible tubes, such as are used to market pastes,creams, and the like which are expelled from the tube through an outletopening formed in the neck of the tube.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved closure ofthis type designed to automatically open by the pressure within the tubewhen the tube is squeezed, and which, when the pressure is relieved,will automatically close the outlet opening.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a closurefor collapsible tubes which will automatically open when pressure iscreated within the tube and which will automatically close when thepressure is relieved which is so designed that the parts thereof can beeasily and economically manufactured and assembled, and when theassembly of the parts has been made they will be, in effect, firmly andpermanently locked together.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description and specificallypointedout in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a. collapsible tube illustrating one formof closure embodying the present invention as having been appliedthereto;

Fig. 2 is a partial view in side elevation of the same, parts beingbroken away and shown in vertical section substantially upon the line 22upon Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial view in side elevation of the tube shown in Fig. 1,parts being broken away and shown in section substantially upon the line33 upon Fig. 2, and illustrating the manner in which the closure-formingelements and the tube may be assembled together;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionthrough the neck of the tube andillustrating the assembly as having been nearly completed;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but illustrating the assembly ashaving been completed and the closure-forming elements in closingposition;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but illustrating the positionassumed by the parts'when some of the contents of the tube are beingexpelled therefrom;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of one of the closureforming elements;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view througha neck of the tube but illustrating amodified or alternative form of construction; and

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 8.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, the tube illustratedgenerally conforms to a conventional collapsible tube having flexiblewalls .III and a relativelystiff or rigid neck I I in which an outletopening I2 is formed. While it is not essential to the presentinvention, the neck and outlet opening are illustrated as rectangular inplan, the neck having opposed side walls I3 and I4 and opposed end wallsI5 and I6. I On the top of the neck there are opposed inwardly directedflanges I! and I8. These flanges are in length slightly less than theinternal distance between theopposed end walls I5 and I6. They areslightly spaced from the top surface of the neck II so as to cooperatetherewith to define grooves I9 and 20. The flanges I7 and I8 areconsiderably spaced from each other so asnot to materially interferewith thedischarge of contents of the tube through the outlet opening I2.The grooves I9 and 20 serve as ways for opposed closuremembers 2I and 22which are slidably confined by the flanges I1 and I8 against the topsurface of the neck I I. These closure elements have downwardlyextending V-shaped springssecured thereto and which are preferablyformed-integraltherewith, each spring consisting of'a spring arm 23 anda locking army 24 with the-arms connected to each other by a sharp bend25.

In the preferred'form of construction the closure element and the springare formed of re silient metal which is highly resistant to corrosionsuch as for example the ordinary stainless steel. The closure elementsmay be readily.

stamped from sheet steel stock and formed to provide the V-shapedsprings integral with the closure elements.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, small webs 26connect the under sides of the flanges I"! and I8 with the top surfaceof the neck II and these webs, in effect, provide abutments or terminalsat the centers of the grooves I9 and 20 against which the inner ends ofthe closure elements 2I and 22 may abut. 'At the juncture between theclosure elements and the spring arms 23 the closure elements arepreferably recessed or notched as at 21 to accommodate the webs 26.

On the internal surfaces of the end walls I5 and I6 of the neck II thereare formed inwardly facing shoulders 28 and 29. These shoulders arespaced from the top surface of the neck II a distance approximatelyequal to the spacing of the top edge'of the locking-arm 2 4 with itsrespective closure element 2| or 22 as the case may be. The spacing ofthe ends of the flanges l1 and I! from the internal surfaces of the endwalls l5 and I6 is such that when the arms 24 and 23 are pressedtogether as illustrated in Fig. 3, they may be inserted between the endsof the flanges l1 and i8 and the end walls l5 and It. The width of thespring arms 23 is preferably approximately equal to the internal spacingbetween the side walls l3 and I4.

The body of the tube In and its neck H may be produced in conformitywith conventional practice except that in the formation of the neck IIthe shoulders 28 and 29 must be formed on the interior of the neck andon the top of the neck the flanges l1 and I8 and the webs 26 must beformed to provide the ways-providing grooves I9 and 20. Theclosure-forming elements may be stamped and formed as previouslydescribed. A feature of the present invention resides in the facilitywith which the closure-forming elements may be assembled with the neck.In so doing, the closure-forming elements 2| and 22 have their V-shapedsprings collapsed as illustrated in Fig. 3 and while in the collapsedcondition the sharp bend 25 is inserted in the small space between theends of the flanges l1 and I8 and the end walls. When the springs arecompletely inserted they will, of course, be released and the lockingarms 24 will be forced outwardly into engagement with the end walls.This occurs when the closureforming elements 2| and 22 assume positionsat opposite ends of the grooves l9 and 20. When the closure-formingelements are released, the spring arms 23 serve to automatically shiftthe closureforming elements into the closing position shown in Fig. 5wherein their inner ends abut the webs 26. In this position the lockingarms 24 assume positions that are substantially vertical lying againsttheir respective end walls l5 and i6 and abutting the inwardly facingshoulders 28 and 29. The spring arms 23 assume positions that areupwardly and inwardly inclined towards each other extending transverselyacross the outlet opening from side wall to side wall. If thecollapsible tube is then squeezed to develop pressure on the fluid orsemi-fluid contents therein the pressure generated is effective on theinclined spring arms 23 to urge the spring arms to separate or assume aposition illustrated in Fig. 6. When the spring arms separate from eachother they merely slide their closure elements 2| and 22 outwardly inthe grooves l9 and 20 in which they are slidable. When the desiredquantity of the contents has been expelled the collapsible tube isreleased so that the pressure within the tube is likewise released andthe V-shaped springs on the closure elements are effective to return theclosure elements from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shownin Fig. 5 thus automatically closing the outlet opening [2 until suchtime as pressure is again generated within the tube by pressing itscollapsible side walls.

In the construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the construction issubstantially the same as above described with the exception that thereis a single locking shoulder 28a formed on the interior of only one ofthe end walls. In this form of construction the webs 26 are omitted andthe closureforming elements 2la are of suflicient length to entirelybridge the outlet opening. The spring arm 23a assumes a position that isinclined from one end wall completely across the outlet opening to theopposed end wall. The locking arm 24a assumes a position lying againstthe end wall on which the shoulder 28a is formed and abutting againstthe shoulder. In this form of construc- 4 tion, when pressure isgenerated within the collapsible tube, it is effective on the spring arm23 that extends transversely across the outlet opening to cause thespring arm to separate from the end wall of the neck against which itbears. This causes the closure 2Ia to slide from its position closingthe outlet opening to allow contents of the tube to be expelled. Whenthe pressure is released the spring arm 23a serves to automaticallyreturn the closure 2la to its closing position as shown in Fig. 8.

From the above-described construction it will be appreciated that theneck ll may be easily molded to shape and that the closure-formingelement or elements with their attached springs can be easily stampedand formed. In assembling the parts it is merely necessary to collapsethe springs on the closure elements and insert them between the ends ofthe flanges and the adjacent end wall of the neck until theclosure-forming elements may slidably enter the grooves beneath theflanges. When this occurs the locking arms on the springs automaticallyseat themselves against the locking shoulders, thus forming a permanentassembly.

The closure thus provided automatically opens for the expelling of thecontents when pressure is generated within the tube and when pressure isrelieved and automatic closure is effected.

It is contemplated that the inner walls of the neck H of a collapsibletube may be provided with recesses to accommodate the locking arm 24,this construction of course providing shoulders similar to shoulders 28and 29 against which the locking arms engage.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as deflned by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible tube having an outlet opening through which thecontents of the tube may be expelled, spaced apart, opposed flanges onthe sides of the opening and on the outer end thereof for slidablyconfining at least one closure element against the outer end of theopening, at least one closure element slidable beneath the flanges fromopen position to closing position, and a spring integral with theclosure element and extending therefrom into the outlet opening andbearing against a wall thereof normally urging the closure into itsclosing position.

2. A collapsible tube having an outlet opening through which thecontents of the tube may be expelled, means for slidably guiding aclosure element across the outlet end of the opening, at least oneclosure element slidable in said guide means, and a V-shaped springsecured to one end of the closure element and positioned within theoutlet opening and bearing against a wall thereof normally urging theclosure element into closing position, said closure element being urgedto the open position by the material bearing against the side of thespring.

3. A collapsible tube having an outlet opening through which thecontents of the tube may be expelled, means for slidably guiding aclosure element across the outlet end of the opening, at least oneclosure element slidable in said guide means, and a V-shaped springsecured to one end of the closure element and positioned within theoutlet opening and bearing against a wall thereof normally urging theclosure element into closing position, there being an inwardly facinglocking shoulder on an internal wall of the out- {position to closingposition,

let opening against which an arm of the V -shaped spring bears to lockthe closure element against outward movement.

4. A collapsible tube having an outlet opening through which thecontents of the tube may be expelled, means for slidably guiding aclosure element across the outlet end of the outlet opening, at leastone closure element slidable in said guide means, said guide means beingspaced apart and on the end walls of the outlet opening and V-shapedsprings secured to the closure element and insertable into the outletopening through said space.

5. A collapsible tube having an outlet opening through which thecontents of the tube may be expelled, flanges at the sides of theopening adjacent the outer end thereof for slidably con- :fining atleast one closure element against the outer end of the opening, at leastone closure element slidable beneath the flanges from open a V-shapedspring :integral with the closure element at one end :thereof, saidspring having a spring arm extendiing transversely across the outletopening and inclined to the axis thereof and a locking arm engageablewith a wall of the outlet opening, and an inwardly facing shoulder onthe mentioned wall of the outlet opening against which the locking armmay bear.

6. A collapsible tube having a neck in which an outlet opening is formedthrough which the contents of the tube may be expelled, a pair ofopposed closure elements, flanges at the sides of the opening adjacentthe outer end of the neck for slidably confining said pair of opposedclosure elements, webs beneath the flanges forming abutments limitingthe inward sliding movement of the closure elements, each closureelement having a spring integral therewith having a spring arm adaptedto assume a position inclined to the axis of the outlet opening, and alocking arm engageable with an inwardly facing shoulder on a wall of theneck.

7. A collapsible tube having a neck in which an outlet opening is formedthrough which the contents of the tube may be expelled, a :pair ofopposed closure elements flanges at the sides of the opening adjacentthe outer end of the neck for slidably confining said pair of opposedclosure elements, webs beneath the flanges forming abutments limitingthe inward sliding movement of the closure elements, each closureelement hav'-' ing a spring integral therewith having a, spring armadapted to assume a position inclined to the axis of the outlet opening,and a locking arm engageable with an inwardly facing shoulder on a wallof the neck, the flanges being spaced from the end walls of the neck asuflicient distance so that the springs on having their arms collapsedtowards each other may be inserted through the space thus provided.

8. A collapsible tube having an outlet opening through which thecontents of the tube may be expelled, flanges at the sides of theopening adjacent the outer end thereof for slidably confining a closureagainst the outer end of the opening, a closure slidable beneath theflanges from open position to closing position, and a spring integralwith the closure and extending therefrom adjacent one end wall of theoutlet opening downwardly and toward the opposed end wall, said springhaving a locking arm adapted to assume a position engaging an inwardlyfacing abutment formed on said opposed end wall.

9. A collapsible tube having an outlet opening through which thecontents of the tube may be expelled, flanges at the sides of theopening adjacent the outer end thereof for slidably confining a closureagainst the outer end of the opening, a closure slidable beneath theflanges from open position to closing position, and a spring integralwith the closure and extending therefrom adjacent one end wall of theoutlet opening downwardly and toward the opposed end wall, said springhaving a locking arm adapted to assume a position engaging an inwardlyfacing abutment formed on said opposed end wall, the ends of the flangesbeing spaced from said opposed end wall a sufiicient distance so thatthe spring arm and locking arm when collapsed towards each other may beinserted into the outlet opening through the space thus provided.

LlLA M. WALCH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

